At Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, the first floor is devoted to the history of ramen, the noodle dish that has become a national obsession in Japan and a worldwide sensation. You’ll find life-size models of old wooden ramen shops and stalls, 380 ramen bowls collected from restaurants around Japan, a massive collection of instant ramen from around the world, and more.
If you want to experience Japan’s ramen culture rather than just looking at exhibits and specimens, there are two options for you at the museum. Firstly, you can learn to make your own ramen. This daily workshop, available at 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 5.30pm, costs ¥4,000 per person and takes about an hour. We recommend making a reservation in advance.
The other option is to head straight for the museum’s main attraction – the seven ramen shops in the basement. Each shop sells a different regional style of ramen, ranging from Sapporo ramen (miso-based soup) from the north, to Okinawa ramen (shio-based soup) from the south.